SO YOU CIRCLE the block three times to find any spot that won’t require you to turn parking into a fender bender of a geometry puzzle. Fear not, parallel-parking-phobes. Brook Ashinay, of Safety First Driving School, has the skinny on sliding your ride into even the tightest of squeezes.

1. Pull up parallel to the car that will be parked in front of you. Your side view mirrors should be about even.

2. Turn the steering wheel hard toward the curb and slowly reverse.

3. When you’re at a 45-degree angle to the other car—the handle of your left front door should be at its bumper—turn the wheel hard in the opposite direction and finish backing into the spot.